Packaging machine



June 15, 1937. L. l.. sALFlsBERG 2,083,617

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed oct. 18, V1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 Ln N INVENTORLEl'mj L. Ealiishur w am ATTORNEY June 15, 1937. 1 L .'SALFxsBERGPACKAGING MACHINE Filed oct. 18, 1954 i 2 sheets-sheet 2 .Z Y .wv

Y l Il INVNTOR L Ealiisljerg Lelfug BY Patented June 15, 1937 PACKAGINGMACHINE Leroy L. Sionsberg, south orange, N. J., signor f to Ivers-LeeCompany, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application October18, 1934, Serial No. '148,846

11 Claims.

'lhis invention pertains in general to packaging equipment andspeciiically relates to a form of automatic packaging machine.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a construction ofpackaging for effecting a continuous and rapid' process in theproduction of packages.

A further object of the invention consists in producing a machineorganization for the fabrication of packages having individualcommoditycontaining enclosures for packaged commodities.

A further object of the invention comprises providing a construction ofpackaging machine utilizing a plurality of sources of packaging materialutilized in a continuous heat sealing packaging operation for producingpackages of a novel character.

These and other objects reside in a construction of packaging machineand a method of manufacture as will be readily apparent from thefollowing description in conjunction with the appended drawings in whichlike reference numerals designate corresponding parts and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view, partially sectioned, of the central portion ofone embodiment of a packaging machine according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally of therepresentation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the composite heating,crimping and pressing equipment employed in the invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a typical package which may be fabricated bythe machine here disclosed; 3,-, and

Fig. 5 is a side view of the package structure of Fig. 4.

This invention contemplates the use of a plurality of feeder rolls ofpackaging material which 49 are positioned for feeding toward centrallypositioned sealing and crimping equipment associated with a feedingmechanism which permits a continuous and rapid manufacturing process inthe fabrication of packages of the type indi- 45 cated. The feedingmechanism cooperates with the sealing and crimping equipment to properlyposition commodity articles between opposed layers of the packagingmaterial at spaced intervals, while the sealing equipment crimps the 50packaging material together at areas other than those occupied by thepackage, at the same time heating these areas in an oxidation process toform, by rapid production methods, a novel form of package.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to Fig. 1, there isprovided a general mounting structure Lhaving two reel spindles 2 and 3positioned upon opposite sides thereof. Mounted upon these reel spindles2 and 3 are reels 4 and 5, respectively. These reels 4 and 5 areprovided with central cores upon4 which rolls of packaging material 6and 'l are respectively stowed for rotatable feeding purposes. Thepackaging material so provided is preferably of transparent strip orribbon formation and is of a composition such as regenerated cellulose,with a heat treatment coating thereon, although other material may beemployed. Extending from the rolls 6 and 1 are leader strips 8 and 9,respectively. These leaders feed into the heating and sealing equipmentdescribed in more detail later.

Upon an upper portion of the mounting structure I there are provided twopressure members II and I2 in the form of bars pivotally mounted so asto engage in peripheral contact with the reels 6 and I to maintain theproper tension on the leader strips and avoid uncoiling of the rolls of-packaging material. These members II and I 2 are provided withlongitudinal slots, not shown, within which hand adjustable weightmembers I3 and Il may be adjustably positioned. These weight members,when adjusted back and forth in their respective slots, regulate thepressure applied to the rolls 6 and 1 to maintain the proper tension fordifferent types of material.

The leader strips 8 and 9 extend centrally of the mounting structure indirections toward each other and pass over idler rollers I5 and I6 andthence to the package forming and sealing equipment. This equipmentincludes a pair of rollers II and I8 whichcombine several functions intheir action vand'will now be considered in detail. Each roller isprovided with two annular rows of peripheral recesses I9, and, in thepresent representation, there are six recesses in each row whereby eachroller is provided with twelve recesses in all. It will be understood,of course, that the number of recesses and rows of recesses may beVaried to meet various packaging requirements.

Referring also to Fig. 2, the rollers I1 and I8 are provided with aplurality of stripper fingers 2I which are secured to a boss 22 on thegeneral mounting structure I. 'I'hese stripper fingers are positioned inannular slots in the reels I'I and I8, so as to occupy positions behindthe recesses I9 at the point of intersection of the rollers I1 and I8.The purpose of these stripper lingers 2| is to guide the leader strips 8and 9 into and out of the rollers I1 and I8 and particularly to avoid atendency of the packaging material to wrap around the rollers.

In the area surrounding the recesses I9 on the rollers I1 and I8, thereis provided a. crosshatched crimping surface. The crimping surfaces ofthe rollers I1 and I8 are complementary to each other and mesh with oneanother to produce an interdigitation of the opposed layers of packagingmaterial fed by the rollers. However, the crimping area surrounding therecesses I9 is interrupted at spaced intervals and provided withcomplementary cutting knives which will be better understood inconnection with the description of the product formed by the machine, asWill be hereinafter pointed out.

The rollers I1 and I8 aresecured upon shafts 24 and 25 which arerotatably mounted through bearings in the boss 22. Referring to Fig. 3,it will be seen that the shaft 24 is hollow for a portion of its lengthcoextensive with the roller I1. In this hollow portion a heatercartridge 26 is provided which includes a resistance element for heatingthe roller I 1 to a temperature sufilcient to cause oxidation and aphysiochemical change in the regenerated cellulose packaging materialwhen in contact therewith. At the outer extremity of the shaft 24 aninsulating element 21 is provided with collector rings which connectwith opposite terminals of the heater cartridge 26. The collector ringson the element 21 are engaged by contact brushes respectively carried bya terminal mounting 28 secured to the boss 22 by'mounting elemnt 29. Theterminal mounting 28 is provided with suitable leads so that electricalenergy may be supplied in the proper amount to the heater elementinternal of the roller I1. 'I'he roller I8 is provided with a similarheating arrangement.

To effect the complementary rotation of the rollers I1 and I8, theshafts 24 and 25 are provided With gears 3U and 3|, respectively, as isshown in dotted line in Fig. 1. These two gears engage each other so asto cause the rotation of the rollers I1 and |8`in timed relationshipwith respect to other moving parts of the packaging machine and withrespect to each other in a manner such that the recesses I9 coincidewith each other as the rollers I1 and I8 are rotated in oppositedirections. The crimping surfaces of the rollers I1 and I8 then meshwith each other in a complementary fashion to cause a forcedinterdigitation of the layers of packaging material fed therebetween.

Referring to Fig. 2, the shaft 25 extends through a bearing and boss 32in a rear wall of the mounting structure I. The shaft 25 iscoupledthrough bevel gears 33 and 35 to a shaft 35. The shaft 36 isjournalled in a bearing member 31 and terminates in a clutchdriven-member 38. Another shaft 39 is mounted in alignment with theshaft 36 and is mechanically coupled through suitable reduction gearingwith an electric driving motor not shown in the drawings. The shaft 39is provided with a clutch drivingmember 40 for engagement with theclutch driven-member 38. The clutch driving-member 48 is associated witha shift collar 42 mounted on the shaft 39 in a manner such as to receiverotary movement while being susceptible to axial movement along theshaft 39. A shift yoke 43 mechanically engages the collar 42 forimparting this axial movement to permitengagement and disengagement ofthe members 38 and 40 under control of a handle 44, as shown in Fig. 1.The

handle 44 can be actuated to selectively drive the operating mechanismof the packaging machine as desired while maintaining a continuousoperation of the driving motor.

Consideration will now be given to the commodity feeding mechanismemployed in the package fabricating organization. In the presentinvention, this mechanism is shown as being particularly designed forfeeding commodity articles such as medicinal pellets and the like, butit is to be understood that modifications can be made to t other typesof articles Without departing from the scope of the invention.

A commodity releasing structure 45 is positioned directly above theintersection of the two rollers I1 and I8. This structure has aninternal chamber through which the pellets 45 feed by gravity from aconnected chute or throat 41 extending upwardly therefrom. This throat41 is of the type having an open portion for permitting access to thecommodity feed line. At its upper extremity, the throat connects with asuitable form of storage hopper for depositing the commodity articles inthc throat and which does not, in itself, form part of the presentinvention.

At the outer extremity of the releasing structure a retaining spring 48is positioned to retain the pellets 46 in a position such that theendmost pellet in the line of pellets is prevented from falling througha hole 49 in the bottom of the release structure. This hole 49 isdirectly in alignment with opposed rows of recesses I9 in the rollers I1and I8. Another hole is provided in the upper portion of the releasestructure in alignment with the other rows of recesses I9. However, thishole is normally occupied by a trap member 5I which, as shown in Fig.1,' is pivoted to an upward extending portion 52 of the releasestructure 45. A spring 53 normally holds this trap member 5i in aposition such as to occupy this hole in the under portion of the releasestructure 45, thereby preventing the pellets 46.

from falling through into the crimping rollers.

Reciprocatively mounted through the upper portion of the releasestructure 45, is a bifurcated plunger member 54, the legs of which arein respective alignment with the two rows of recesses in cach of therollers I1 and I8. The plunger member 54 is pivotally suspended from twobars 55 and 58, mounted on pivot rods 51 and 58 extending transverselybetween walls of the general mounting structure I. The bars 55 and 55co-act to impart substantially rectilinear reciprocative motion to theplunger member 54 through the release structure 45.

'I'he plunger member 54 is provided on one side with an extension 59adapted to engage With a projection 5I on the pivoted trap member 5I sothat Va downward movement of the plunger 54 causes the trap member 5I tobe pushed aside against the action of spring 53, thereby permitting apellet to fall through the hole in the under portion of releasestructure 45, normally occupied by the trap member 5I. Simultaneouslywith such an operation, one leg of the bifurcated plunger 54 engageswith the spring 48 to force the same out of position and permit theend-most pellet 4G to fall through the hole 49, the adjacent leg of thebifurcated plunger 54 actingto push the pellet therethrough. At the sametime the other leg of the bifurcated-plunger 54 follows a pellet throughthe hole initially occupied by part of the trap member 5I. The two legsof the bifurcated member 54 follow through to position the pellets withrespect to the package material being fed through the rollers I1 and I8.A specially formed cam 62, mounted on the shaft 25, engages with a rider68 secured to one end of the bar 56 to impart a specially timedreciprocative motion to the plunger 64. This motion is of a nature suchthat when recesses in the crimping rollers I1 and I8 are approaching ahorizontal line extending through the axes of both rollers, so as toreceive pellets from the release structure 45, the plunger 54 is made toeffect the release of two pellets and follow these pellets through,thereby holding them in position between the opposed layers of packagingmaterial for a time until the subsequent rotation'of the rollers I1 andI8 produces a closed condition of the opposed recesses in the rollersmore in a horizontal alignment whereupon the plunger member 54 iswithdrawn to resume its normal upward position.

When returned to its normally upward position, the legs of the plungermember 54 have been withdrawn from the internal passageway of therelease structure 45 so that the line of pellets is moved down bygravity to position further pellets for insertion between the crimpingrollers I1 and I8. It will be particularly noted that the distancebetween the rows of recesses in either of the rollers, and the spacingbetween the first and third pellets of the ille is substantially thesame. Such a spatial arrangement utilizes the intervening or secondpellet for spacing purposes before its subsequent use in the package.Thus, a single feed line of ille formation is utilized to permitmultiple transfer of articles therefroml into a multiple formed packagestructure.

Bar 55 is provided at its rearward extremity with a suitable tensionspring 64 in conjunction with an adjusting member 65 for imparting aforce through the plunger 55 to the bar 56 to effect the continuousperipheral engagement of the rider 63 with cam 62.

In accordance with this invention there is also provided an arrangementfor severing the fabricated package structure at timed intervals toproduce composite package units. The time of severance is so determinedthat all of the package units are preferably of similar structure andcut at the same place. In considering this severing equipment in detail,there are provided two stationary cutting members 66 and 61, rigidly xedto the bottom of the boss 22 and upon opposite sides of the course takenby the package structure as it emerges from between the two rollers I1and I8. Beneath the two stationary cutting members 66 and 61, and inabutting relationship thereto, there is provided a movable knife member68, mounted upon a shaft 69 rotatably positioned in bearing 18. Thebearing 1D is secured to a front wall of the general mounting structureI. A coil spring 12 is provided on the shaft 69 between the bearing 18and knife member 68 for urging the latter into a predetermined position.

At the lower extremity of the shaft 68 a gear 13 is provided. This gear13 engages with a toothed gear sector 14 which forms one end of a lever15. 'This lever has a fulcrum point at the pivot bearing 16 and has aprojecting end 11 provided with a follower element 18. The follower 18engages in a groove in a type of cylinder cam 80. The cam 88 is mountedupon a shaft 8l extending through a suitable bearing in the rear wall ofthe general mounting structure I and which terminates in a gear 82. Thegear 82 engages with an intermediary gear 83 in turn engaging with adriving gear 84 mounted upon the outer extremity or the shaft 25. Thesegears are of an easily demountable type for permitting substitution ofdifferent gear ratios in order to obtain different driving effects ofthe cam 80. The cam and groove therein, together with the driving gearstherefore, are so constructed that a reciprocative motion is transmittedthrough the lever 15 and sector 14 to the gear 13. This reciprocativemotion produces a quick shearing effect between the knife member 68andthe cutting members 66 and 61. This reclprocative shearing effectsevers the finished package structure into composite units. These unitsmay be of any desired length depending on the adjusted timing of theknife 68. As the package units are severed by the knife action they mayfall into a suitable hopper or conveyer provided for the purpose.

More detailed consideration will now be given to the package structureitself as produced by the packaging organization. Referring to Fig. 4,it will be seen that pellets 46 are disposed in longitudinal rowsbetween two layers of regener-ated cellulose. This cellulose materialhas been interdigitated by the complementary crimping surfaces of therollers I1 and I8 in-areas surrounding each of the pellets 46. It willbe noted that the crimping. area surrounding each pellet is in the formof a square and that the squares for the various pellets are interruptedby a separation line A extending longitudinally of the package materialand also by separation lines B" extending transversely of the material.These separation lines divide each of the pellets and its accompanyingpackaging material into individual squares. At the edge of each of theseparation lines B, a perforation 86 is provided, while at theintersection of the separation lines B with the separation lines A,cross-perforation lines 81 are provided. The perforations extendentirely through both layers of the cellulose material and permit theeasy separation of each of the package units from the composite packageunit as a whole so that the consumer can detach a square containing onepellet for individual use. separation lines C are provided runningthrough the rows of commodity-containing recesses. All of theperforations of the package structure are effected in the packagingmaterial as they pass between the rollers I1 and I8, due to a cuttingaction of these rollers. It will be noted that knife elements 90 areprovided on the roller I1. These knife elements engage withcomplementary portions of the roller I8 and cut the packaging materialto produce the perforations 86 as the package material passes, betweenthe rollers. Other knife elements are provided on the rollers I1 and I8to eiecta perforation of the package at the intersection of theseparation lines B with the separation line A.

It will now be seen that the rollers I1 and I8 simultaneously perform a'multitude of operations consisting of the feeding of the packagingmaterial, the positioning of the commodity articles between opposedlayers of the material, the interdigitation of the layers under pressurein areas surrounding the commodity articles, and the heating of theseareas within a range to produce oxidization and physiochemical change ofsuch areas to assume an embrittled character susceptible to easy tearingfor promoting facile removal of the commodity articles from thepackaging material. The package thus produced utilizes the normal toughand wiry nature of the regenerated cellulose for article containingenvelope Other l areas, while the seal or bond areas surrounding thesame are of an embrittled nature for gaining easy access to the envelopeenclosure areas.

The machine in its entirety is operable for 5 producing the continuousand rapid fabrication of package units each containing individualcommodity articles maintained in sealed and 'segregated spacedrelationship. It will be noted that a plurality of sources of packagematerial are used for feeding opposed layers of the coated regeneratedcellulose material into the heating and crimping rollers I'I and I8. Thecommodity article feeding mechanism cooperates with the crimping rollersin timed relationship to deposit the commodity articles between theopposed layers of packaging material. It will be noted in this respectthat the plunger element 54 has four cycles of operation. In the firstcycle, the plunger is in an up-raised condition wherein the pellets 46move into an initial position as fed through the throat 41; in the nextcycle of opera, tion, the plunger 54 effects the release of a pair ofthese pellets and at the same time follows them through into a positionbetween the opposed layers of packaging material in which opposedrecesses of the rollers I`I and I8 engage with the pellet; in the nextcycle of operation, the plunger 54 remains in this lower position untilthe recesses of rollers I 'I and I8 have rotated sufficiently to 30properly secure the deposited pellets in closed relation between thepackaging material. The plunger element 54 then completes its last cycleof operation by returning to its initial upward position and permittingthe file of pellets to again be moved into a position ready for a repeatoperation.

The completed package as fed from between the rollers is then severed at.desired positions by the knife element 68, the action of the knifeelement 40 68 being timed so that the package material is severeddirectly on one of the separation lines B extending transversely of thepackaging material strips. Of course, the timing may be adjusted so thatthe severing may occur to produce a unit having any number of individualpackage squares therein. For example, a package unit with 2, 4, 6, 8 ormore squares can be produced. In another form of my invention, it may bedesirable to provide crimping and heating rollers in a differentarrangement in which there are more or less rows of recesses I9 toproduce different forms of packages. Recognizing that such modificationsare within the purview of those skilled in the art, the presentembodiment has been shown of a compound form for feeding articles to tworows of recesses which form is considered a typical example ofoperation.

All of the operable elements Work in an interrelated timed sequencedrivenV from an electric motor which is not shown in the drawings. The

clutch may be operated by the hand lever 44 to engage or disengage thedriven elements from the motor as desired. 'Ihe supply means fordelivering the commodity articles to the throat 41 may be of anysuitable type and may include movable parts such as a rotating drum andmovable agitator, all of which may be driven, if desired, from theelectric motor such as'through a 70 continuation of the shaft 36.

Although the invention has been described in a preferred form, it willbe understood that various modifications and changes will occur to thoseskilled in the art. It 'is therefore not intended 7| that anylimitations be attached to the foregoing other than those pointed out inthe appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates ls:

1. A package forming machine comprising means for supplying and feedinga packaging material in opposed layers, article feeding means fordepositing commodity articles between said opposed layers andcomprising, a chute for supplying commodity articles in file formationand .including a release arrangement for simultane- `ously releasing aplurality of articles therefrom in predetermined spaced relationship,means for periodically operating said release means; and package formingmeans including bonding equipment for joining said layers in spacedareas surrounding said articles, said bonding equipment comprisingcomplementary rotatable rollers having heating elements for causing saidrollers to heat said packaging material restrictively in said areassurrounding said articles.

2. A package fabricating machine in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid package forming means includes a severing device for severingpredetermined portions of said layers at points intermediate saidcommodity articles enclosed therebetween.

3. A package fabricating machine in accordance with claim l in whichsaid article feeding means comprises a release chamber, a throat forfeedingindvidual articles thereto in a continuous file, and means forreleasing alternate pairs of articles from said file into a positionintermediate said layers of material, the articles intermediate saidpairs acting as spacers until in turn transferred from said releasearrangement.

4. A package fabricating machine in accordance with claim 1 in whichsaid article feeding means comprises a release chamber, a throat forfeeding commodity articles thereto in continuous file, and release meansfor releasing selected articles from vsaid file, said release meansincluding plunger means operable to follow said articles into a positionintermediate said layers of material.

5. A package fabricating 'machine comprising, a general mountingstructure, means carried thereby for supporting rolls of strip packagingmaterial, rollers carried by said general mounting structure andprovided alternately with recesses i and bonding areas, means forsupporting and driving said rollers in complementary engagement so thatsaid recesses coincide with each other'in the concomitant rotation ofsaid rollers, article feeding means including a release chamber, athroat for supplying articles thereto in file formation, and plungermeans operable through said release chamber for transferring articlestherefrom to'a position intermediate said rollers, a cam for effectingthe reciprocative movement of said plunger means in a four-movementoperation, as follows: rst, to permit said articles to entersaidchamber; second, to operate through said chamber to release articlestherefrom; third, to hold said articles in a position intermediate saidrollers; and, fourth, to return to said initial position; and means fordriving said cam in timed relationship with the rotation of saidrollers.

6. A package forming machine in accordance with claim 5 includingsevering means for cutting said strips of packaging material afterbonding at points intermediate said articles held therebetween, saidsevering means comprising relatively movable elements, cam means foreiiecting said relative movement, and means for driving said cam meansin timed relationship with the rotation of said rollers.

'7. A packaging apparatus comprising, means for feeding opposed layersof packaging material, package forming equipment having mutuallyengagable parts for sealing said layers of material together, means forstoring commodity articles in file formation, transfer means fortransferring said articles from said storage means to a point betweensaid layers of material in engagement with said mutually engaging partsof said package forming equipment, and having parts thereof for holdingsaid transferred articles in said position, said package formingequipment operating to seal said transferred articles between saidlayers of material.

8. A packaging apparatus comprising, a pair of rotative elements havingalternate recesses and sealing surfaces, said elements being mounted forrotation with the recesses and sealing surfaces coming into respectivemutual engagement in rotation, means for feeding opposed layers ofsealable packaging material between said rotative elements, storagemeans for storing articles in file formation, transfer means fortransferring articles from said storage means to a position between saidlayers of material adjacent said rotative elements, and mechanicallyinterconnected driving means for causing said transfer means to transfersaidarticles to said position between said layers of material at a timewhen the opv alignment whereby said recesses engage said article throughsaid layers to remove the same from said transferred position and sealsaid layers with said sealing surfaces to enclose said articles in saidlayers.

9. 'Ihe apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which said transfermeans includes parts for holding said transferred article in saidtransferred position for a predetermined time during which said recessesoperate through said layers of material to remove said article from saidtransferred position in a package forming operation.

10. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 in which said transfer meanscomprises a plunger for selectively removing articles from said fileformation, said plunger acting to follow a selected article to saidtransferred position and hold said article in said transferred positionuntil caught by said rotative element.

fer means operates to release selected articles from said file formationto be deposited in a predetermined position intersecting said rotativeelements.

LEROY L. SALFISBERG.

